Lewis Hamilton arrived in Maranello on Monday morning. Your entire Ferrari F1 group welcomed him with open arms, giving him a reception worthy of a Member of the British Empire. That is exactly the title that the Briton was awarded by Queen Elizabeth herself a number of years in the past. It’s no small honor. Sir Lewis is essentially the most profitable driver within the historical past of System 1, an indisputable fact. His expertise has taken him to victory on each observe on this planet. Now, at 40 years previous, it’s time to enter the realm of legends. To do that, there was just one choice: to drive for Ferrari.
The Englishman left behind a “protected spot” the place he may have completed his profession comfortably. He had nothing extra to show. As a substitute, pushed by a predatory intuition and childhood desires, the British driver needed to face the ultimate problem of his profession. Profitable with Ferrari has a special taste. If, as all supporters of the Prancing Horse anticipate, he manages to convey the championship again to Maranello, he’ll turn out to be a residing legend. The primary strategy came about in latest days: a go to to the manufacturing unit, simulator periods, and a shakedown on the observe with the 2023 season automobile.
Lewis Hamilton was in a position to take a look at the Brembo brakes, on which he expressed a really optimistic opinion. Due to Italian know-how, the aim is to unravel the qualifying issues he confronted final season, when, with Mercedes, he used Carbon Industries brakes throughout braking. There was additionally the primary shut encounter with the PU 066/12. A sort of lesson to learn to greatest use the Italian energy unit. Attaining the proper “guide reminiscence” to totally exploit the facility unit with its numerous controls won’t be straightforward. He’s additionally engaged on this within the simulator.
The Ferrari SF-23 single-seater wasn’t a fantastic automobile. Undoubtedly the weakest one produced within the wing automobile period. Nevertheless, driving it was unbelievable for Lewis Hamilton. Clearly excited, the Briton accomplished a diminished work program. About thirty laps the place he turned conversant in the assorted controls and, on the identical time, began to get to know the Maranello group’s working methodology. Though it’s all the time essential to get on observe, subsequent week on the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, as we had beforehand anticipated, Lewis Hamilton will face a considerably extra demanding take a look at.
He’ll have extra time to give attention to the work to be carried out. Charles Leclerc may also be current with him. One other attention-grabbing element considerations the take a look at organized by Pirelli for the 2026 tires. The Worldwide Federation is effectively conscious of how difficult it’s for the Italian tire producer to work on the brand new technology of tires and not using a automobile regulated by the upcoming algorithm. That’s why they’ll enable groups to make use of a modified 2024 automobile for this event. The seven-time F1 world champion will thus drive the Ferrari SF-24 in February.
That is the automobile that allowed Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to struggle for the constructors’ title till the final System 1 Grand Prix on the 5.281-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. A extremely good automobile, the premise for the automobile that might be unveiled on January nineteenth through broadcast, after which seen on observe at Fiorano for the primary pre-season run. The anticipation is kind of excessive, there’s no denying it, as a result of testing the SF-24 will present the primary essential suggestions for Lewis Hamilton, looking forward to the 2025 System 1 championship. In the meantime, nonetheless, the take a look at earlier automobile programme will begin subsequent Tuesday on the Catalan observe, the place Lewis Hamilton’s chemistry with the pink automobile will proceed to develop.
— see video above —
Purchase official Ferrari F1 merchandise!
Let different Scuderia Followers learn about us
